Beaconhurst Team Reach Final of UK Wide Trading Contest

The S6 pupils are the only Scottish team represented in the final of the ifs University College Student Investor Challenge 2015.

A team of four teenage traders from Beaconhurst School are heading to London for the national final of a prestigious financial competition.

The S6 pupils, who trade under the title 'Goldistockandthe3shares', are the only Scottish team represented in the final of the ifs University College Student Investor Challenge 2015.

Grant Dillon, Henry Oldfield, Jordan Reed and Jamie Salem-Dalgety beat off competition from nearly 10,000 teams representing schools across the UK to make it to the final eight.

On Thursday April 30, they will compete in a live trading simulation and deliver an interactive business presentation to an expert panel of judges in a bid to win the competition and its main prize of an all-expenses paid trip to New York.

Jamie, 17, says: “We’re so excited to be in the final and pleased and proud to have made it this far in the competition.

“We’ve had to work hard together as a team and stay focused in order to increase the value of our share portfolio and make it into the top eight.

“Now we are ready to make the best possible presentation to the judges and are really hoping we can win that trip to New York.”

The Student Investor Challenge is a virtual share dealing contest run by financial education provider London-based ifs University College.

Teams of up to four students, aged between 14 and 19, are given a virtual £100,000 to trade shares, stocks, futures and assets.

They are challenged to keep their portfolios healthy by reading and forecasting market information provided online to identify what shares to buy and judge the best time to buy and sell in order to make a profit.

During a four-month period, the top 50 teams made investments totalling more than £7million.

The Beaconhurst team managed to outperform the FTSE share index in growing their portfolio and were among the top 80 teams who made it through to the semi-finals of the competition.
From there, the teams were whittled down to the eight finalists with the winners set to receive a trip to the Big Apple, including a visit to the New York Stock Exchange, plus £2,000 for their school and £200 for each team member.

Beaconhurst headmaster John Owen says: “Simply reaching the final is an outstanding achievement for the Beaconhurst team and we are all very proud of them and looking forward to seeing how they get on in the final.

“Grant, Henry, Jordan and Jamie have demonstrated great team-work as well excellent analytical and decision-making skills in growing their virtual pot of money.

“I’m really impressed with how they have risen to the challenge and I think the competition has proved a great learning experience for all taking part.”

Beaconhurst now face St Gerard’s School in Bangor, Dean Close School from Cheltenham, Malmesbury School from Wiltshire, Nene Park Academy in Peterborough, Sevenoaks School in Kent, Glenthorne High School in Sutton and the Windemere School from Cumbria in the final.

Alison Pask, Vice Principal at ifs University College, says: “This year’s contest has been one of the most keenly-fought yet, with very little to choose from among the top trading-teams.

“To reach this stage, the team from Beaconhurst School have done exceedingly well.”

The Student Investor Challenge is designed to spark an interest among teenagers in learning about finance as well as developing a broader range of skills including team-working, research, communication and analysis of current events.